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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| Job fears for 750 Toyota workers | Job fears for 750 Toyota workers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hundreds of jobs are under threat at car maker Toyota after it announced a "surplus" of 750 posts at its factories in Derbyshire and Flintshire. | Hundreds of jobs are under threat at car maker Toyota after it announced a "surplus" of 750 posts at its factories in Derbyshire and Flintshire. |
| Managers said they were reviewing the situation but were not currently considering compulsory redundancies. | Managers said they were reviewing the situation but were not currently considering compulsory redundancies. |
| The firm employs about 3,500 people at its plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and another 500 at Deeside. | The firm employs about 3,500 people at its plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and another 500 at Deeside. |
| Toyota said it had discussed the situation with employees but had made no decision about what action to take. | Toyota said it had discussed the situation with employees but had made no decision about what action to take. |
| The review, which is part of regular salary review discussions, is due to be completed in March. | The review, which is part of regular salary review discussions, is due to be completed in March. |
| They will do their utmost to retain the top skills they have got Mark Todd, South Derbyshire MP | They will do their utmost to retain the top skills they have got Mark Todd, South Derbyshire MP |
| Staff at the Burnaston plant have been told one assembly line will shut, and both the Avensis and Auris cars will be made on a single line. | Staff at the Burnaston plant have been told one assembly line will shut, and both the Avensis and Auris cars will be made on a single line. |
| A statement said 2009 had been a "tough year for Toyota Manufacturing UK", but it said the decision was related to efficiency, rather than any cut in the number of cars produced. | A statement said 2009 had been a "tough year for Toyota Manufacturing UK", but it said the decision was related to efficiency, rather than any cut in the number of cars produced. |
| It added that talks at the firm were centred on managing the situation in order to ensure sustainable long-term business. | It added that talks at the firm were centred on managing the situation in order to ensure sustainable long-term business. |
| In 2008 the factory produced more than 213,000 vehicles but this fell to 127,390 last year. | In 2008 the factory produced more than 213,000 vehicles but this fell to 127,390 last year. |
| This reflected an industry-wide slump of 30.9% in car production in 2009. | This reflected an industry-wide slump of 30.9% in car production in 2009. |
| Long-term plans | Long-term plans |
| The company has indicated it hopes to raise production in 2010, despite prediction from the Society of Motor Manufacturers the year would still be difficult for manufacturers. | The company has indicated it hopes to raise production in 2010, despite prediction from the Society of Motor Manufacturers the year would still be difficult for manufacturers. |
| South Derbyshire MP Mark Todd said the news came as a blow, but he was confident about Toyota's commitment to Burnaston. | South Derbyshire MP Mark Todd said the news came as a blow, but he was confident about Toyota's commitment to Burnaston. |
| He said: "This is a very successful, high-quality business. | He said: "This is a very successful, high-quality business. |
| "In my experience of dealing with them, they will do their utmost to retain the top skills they have got at Burnaston. | "In my experience of dealing with them, they will do their utmost to retain the top skills they have got at Burnaston. |
| "They are not short-term thinkers. They are interested in the longer term." | "They are not short-term thinkers. They are interested in the longer term." |
| Unions have so far not commented on the news. | Unions have so far not commented on the news. |
| In 2009, faced with a need for smaller capacity, the Derbyshire factory adopted new working conditions leading to a 10% pay cut and a shorter working week. | In 2009, faced with a need for smaller capacity, the Derbyshire factory adopted new working conditions leading to a 10% pay cut and a shorter working week. |
| A voluntary redundancy scheme was also put in place at the suggestion of employees. | A voluntary redundancy scheme was also put in place at the suggestion of employees. |
| But increased sales, driven by the government's car scrappage scheme, led to the factory reverting to a full-time five-day working week in August and September. | But increased sales, driven by the government's car scrappage scheme, led to the factory reverting to a full-time five-day working week in August and September. |
| The announcement about the firm's surplus jobs comes as the car giant plans to extend a massive safety recall to Europe because of an accelerator pedal problem. | The announcement about the firm's surplus jobs comes as the car giant plans to extend a massive safety recall to Europe because of an accelerator pedal problem. |
| It has also issued a similar notice in China. | It has also issued a similar notice in China. |
| So far Toyota has recalled one million cars in the US and suspended sales of eight popular US models. | So far Toyota has recalled one million cars in the US and suspended sales of eight popular US models. |
| The company has not confirmed whether any of the models produced in the UK are affected. | The company has not confirmed whether any of the models produced in the UK are affected. |
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| A university lecturer specialising in marketing gives his view on Toyota's announcement. |